Learning and development

‘time to talk’™ is Warwickshire’s communication strategy for Early Years settings. It equips practitioners with the knowledge and skills to support babies and young children in developing strong communication skills, through a structured, tiered training programme.

The vision is to create and celebrate opportunities for all children to achieve their potential in speech, language and communication, working together with, and in response to, the local needs of local communities.

‘time to talk’™ Training Programme

• Tier 1 is designed for all Early Years practitioners.
• Tiers 2 and 3 build on this foundation, enabling a nominated practitioner to become the setting’s ‘Speech and Language Champion’.

Please see below for further details.

Tier 1 training

This introductory training helps practitioners understand the importance of early speech, language, and communication development. It covers key areas of communication and provides practical strategies to support children effectively within the setting.

Practitioners will explore how to observe and monitor communication development, identify children who may need additional support, and plan appropriate interventions. The training also highlights the crucial role of the practitioner and the learning environment. Participants will receive a communication monitoring tool and an environmental evaluation resource.

Tier 2 training

(Available to practitioners who have completed Tier 1)

Tier 2 offers a deeper understanding of the five key areas of speech, language, and communication development. Practitioners will explore typical developmental pathways and learn how to support children when progress is not as expected.

The training includes practical strategies, video reflections, and self-directed learning tasks to enhance interaction quality. Practitioners will gain tools and knowledge to identify and support communication difficulties effectively.

Tier 3 training

(Available to practitioners who have completed Tier 2)

Tier 3 builds on previous learning and introduces the use of the WellComm screening tool. Practitioners will learn how and when to use observation and assessment tools to support children’s communication development.

This training promotes confident, knowledgeable practitioners who can engage with parents and professionals, identify children needing additional support (including those who stammer), and embed both structured and unstructured language-rich opportunities in their setting. Champions are also encouraged to share their learning with colleagues.

Being Bilingual

This training supports practitioners working with children who have English as an additional language. It covers how bilingual children acquire language, how to support them effectively, and when to seek further help. The session also shares insights from the ‘Being Bilingual’ strand of the ‘time to talk’™ project, which involved working directly with bilingual families.

‘time to talk’™ Cluster Meetings

These CPD sessions are open to ‘time to talk’™ champions and supporting practitioners who have previously completed training. Attendance at one of these sessions is essential for champions to stay up to date with the implementation of the strategy. All sessions cover the same content.

‘chatter matters’™ (3-hour face-to-face session)

This engaging session is suitable for all staff and focuses on delivering language-rich experiences for babies, toddlers, and young children through singing, storytelling, and play.

Testimonial of Time to Talk Training: Evidence – ‘time to talk’™ – Warwickshire

‘time to talk’™ Warwickshire - Evidence

For more information about ‘time to talk’™ Warwickshire

For all training enquiries, please email:earlyyearsadvisors@warwickshire.gov.uk